no other, to wait a mistake, she'd not change, Johnny knew that, known her for years now, temper like a stepped on rattlesnake, her eyes fixing like dagger darts. He smokes; lets the smoke settle in his throat, his lungs, stares at the bed, unmade, used, the pillows soiled by head and hair, the smell of her still there. To leave, to depart, unstitch the years, months, days, unstitch the mind and heart. He'd not tell her, just go, have no scene, or bellows or threatened suicide, best to go, leave her there, pretend you'll be back, see her soon, like night comes, like new or old moon. Johnny knows her all too well; a fresh horizon comes into view, new pastures to walk or seek, the old ,the past, the tried and tested, set aside, he exhales the smoke, watches dust settle, her voice downstairs raised,
the radio pop tunes piping
new and old rising up the stairs, he rises, stubs out the cigarette, time to go, to set off, with no regret.